what is my power supply

Look on the sticker on the side of it. It will list +3.3V, +5V, +12V (maybe multiple +12V), and possibly some -3.3V, -5V, and -12V. The + voltages are what you're mainly concerned about.

You'll figure it out by multiplying the rail by the amperes it can give. Ie. a +12V with 18A can provide up to 216W.
 
i meant to say watts, nvmd, i see that its 300W, enough for the new vid card im gettin' (ati x800 xl)
 
Depends on the PSU's amperage. If the +12V isn't at least 22A, then you really should get a new unit. Since you've got an AGP board, the 3.3V should be at least 30-35A, but the 12V can't be ignored as that's where you'll be receiving supplemental power off of.
 
The fact that the Radeon X800XL does not require any external power connector, and does seem to be running cooler than X800XTs, will be a boon for OEM system builders as well as small form factor owners. You don’t have to worry so much about a beefy power supply and heat build up.
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. I think that answered the question.
 
Big B said:
Depends on the PSU's amperage. If the +12V isn't at least 22A, then you really should get a new unit. Since you've got an AGP board, the 3.3V should be at least 30-35A, but the 12V can't be ignored as that's where you'll be receiving supplemental power off of.
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its a Dynex Model: PS300W

Fan Controlled ATX12V Power Supply

it says its a +12=15a (YELLOW) - watever that means
 
No it doesn't. The 350W model only sports 19A on the 12V. Why would a lower-ranking model trump the specs of a higher-ranking unit? Secondly, he's reading the specs right off the product itself.
 
Try it and see. That could be pretty tight, so I wouldn't discard the possibility of having to upgrade the power supply.
 
wat r the advantages of having a higher power supply, will it improve performance in any way?
would it just heat things up more?
 
The advantages are the ability to provide more power as the demands increase. It won't do anything if your current one isn't holding you back. On the flip side, in order to properly operate, components require a level of power to operate correctly. If the components demand more power than can be provided from the PSU, you run into several issues.

First, if the power requirements aren't met, stability can become a problem. Second, the power supply may die, which tends to be more disastorous with the cheaper POS units...as they're more prone to put on a show and take a few victims on the way out.

The power supply won't supply 500W if only 300W are needed. Components use more power when in use/under load than when at idle.
 
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